Prince William and Kate Middleton have been married for nearly seven years, and are about to welcome their third child. But, for some reason, when she touched her husband's knee (a rare behavior from the Duchess) during a recent interview with the BBC this week, it made headlines.
People began to make the assumption that perhaps Will and Kate were inspired by Harry and Meghan's relationship. Body language experts also weighed in on the couple's behavior towards each other, not just in the interview, but during their previous public appearances as well.
"They may be more reserved [than other couples] in their public displays of affection, but that doesn't meant they love each other any less or aren't excited about each other," North Carolina-based body language expert Blanca Cobb told Cosmopolitan.
Turns out, Kate tapping Will's knee isn't even about affection, according to Cobb. She interprets the gesture as Kate's way of saying, "Hey, we can both relate."
"Through touch you connect with your partner," Cobb explains. "You let them know that they're important to you. Gentle touches, playful moments, and sincere smiles show that they enjoy each other's company and have fun together."
Cobb then analyzed a few more of the couple's public encounters and explained what their mannerisms say about their relationship.
Starting with their wedding and the balcony kiss seen around the world, Cobb thinks Will and Kate could've appeared more intimate, but the couple may have been nervous about displaying affection in front of thousands of people.
"It was their wedding day! They should have been touching and embracing heart-to-heart," Cobb explained. "I also get the sense she's a little shy, embarrassed, or unsure, since she giggles right afterward, and raises her shoulders "” it's a nervous moment for her."
However, since the wedding, there have been plenty of instances where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have publicly displayed affection for each other.
She recalled the time when Will wrapped his arms around Kate at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
"You can get a temperature reading of how hot a couple is for one another by their physical proximity and the level of touch," Cobb said. "They're seizing the moment with physical closeness that brings them closer emotionally."
The expert also pointed out the time when Will placed his hand on Kate's lower back, and another time when the couple walked arm-in-arm to draw attention to the fact that "they are in tune with each other." She added that Kate walking in front of William may mean that she is the "dominant force" in the relationship.
"Couples who love each other want to touch each other, since it can convey your love without you having to say a word," Cobb added. "The back placement is a nice, intimate compromise, since if he goes any lower, he goes near the tush, and the shoulder seems too formal."
In short, Cobb is convinced that Will and Kate's relationship is not like a "typical couple." This is mainly because they have strict "rules to follow on public decorum," but it doesn't mean they don't deeply love or care for each other.
"I think what happens behind closed doors can be very different from what you see in public," Cobb concluded.
When compared to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's mannerisms, experts agree that while the two couples are happy and in love, they couldn't be more different from one another.
It was revealed that Harry and Meghan are comfortable with each other as proven by how closely they sat together during their first interview. They held hands for almost the entire interview, which was interpreted as a sign of reassurance during a stressful time, like a royal engagement and the media frenzy surrounding them.
The couple looked at each other longingly and maintained long, steady eye contact, a gesture which suggests they're very honest with each other.
"Clearly, they're not hiding anything from each other, or trying to hide emotions from us," body language expert Traci Brown told Good Housekeeping.
Being second in line for the throne is a huge responsibility so we can't blame Will and Kate for trying to maintain a certain appearance while in public. Harry has always been the rule-breaker, so it is definitely not out of the ordinary that he would appear a lot more relaxed when spotted with his fiancee in public.
What do you think of Cobb's analysis? Let us know!
